The Hebrew people are at war with the Babylonians. The Babylonian attack on Jerusalem is approaching. To save the city from destruction, Fenena, the daughter of the Babylonian king Nabucco, is hold as hostage. Fenena escaped to Jerusalem after releasing her beloved Ismaele, nephew of the king of Jerusalem, from the Babylonian captivity. Fenena is the sister of Abigaille. Abigaille demands the crown and Ismaele. Nabucco proclaims himself divine and orders the people to worship him. Abigaille has secured power and the imprisoned Hebrews plot revenge on the Babylonians. To whom belongs the world?
The lovers Fenena and Ismaele are ground between the fronts. Nabucco intervenes and finishes the spiral of violence. Without possibility of love and tyranny Abigaille takes her own life. The choir of prisoners »Va, pensiero…« became the true hymn of the Italian liberation movement.
Opera in four parts by Giuseppe Verdi Performed in Italian with German surtitles
Running time 2 hours 30 minutes
Premiere 19 May 1996
Staging: Peter Konwitschny
Set Design: Helmut Brade
Costume Design: Frauke Schernau
Choir: Matthias Brauer
